Eric Paradis of New Bedford is a jazz fan, and used to like going to a local bar to hear the music, which he said is rather rare in the city, bars offering jazz. He got the idea to create a jazz event that would feature groups rotating from bar to bar, but it proved to be a daunting task.
Then he got the idea of creating a jazz festival in the city, with Bridgewater Credit Union stepping up to provide funding. Last year, the New Bedford JazzFest was born, designed by Paradis, who at the same time last year was planning something else as well.
“I was planning my wedding, too,” laughed the happily married Paradis. “Planning a wedding and festival at the same time wasn’t easy. But both got done.”
This year’s Second Annual New Bedford JazzFest is being held on two waterfront stages in a 170-foot-long tent on Pier 3 near the high-speed ferry. It runs from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., and features more than 40 of the region’s best jazz musicians, playing Latin to fusion to swing.
“Last year we had three bands,” Paradis said. “This year we have over 40, and there will always be music playing. There are two stages on either end of the tent, and when one band is breaking down, the other will be starting up, so it’ll be continuous music.”
About 300 people showed up last year, a figure he hopes to double this year at the very least: There’s room for 1,000, he said.
Some musicians on tap to play are saxophonist Dino Govoni, playing with both the Horseneck Trio and the UMass Dartmouth Faculty All Stars. Govoni records on the Whaling City Sound label and has recorded or toured with talents like Randy Brecker, the Manhattan Transfer, Arturo Sandoval, the Boston Pops and Frankie Valli. When he’s not playing, Govoni teaches at UMass Dartmouth and the Berklee School of Music.
Other local faves include the 17-piece Southcoast Jazz Orchestra, spotlighting vocalist Diane Carey; singer Dori Legge with the John Harrison Quartet; the Marcus Monteiro Quartet; and the UMass Dartmouth Latin Vision Ensemble, led by Chris Poudrier.
ArtWorks! Of New Bedford is partnering with the festival to create an artists’ colony at the event, with a display of original art and handmade crafts for sale. An assortment of food trucks will be on site, along with beer and wine from Buzzards Bay Brewing and the Shipyard Brewing Company.
The festival this year again benefits the nonprofit Your Theatre in New Bedford, where Paradis, an accountant by trade, is also an actor, appearing in recent productions such as “Woman in Mind” and “The Activist.”
The city has a long tradition of music, and Paradis hopes to add jazz to the list of what people like.
“This year we have all regional bands, but we’re hoping this year builds interest and next year we can also get some major national acts,” he said.
Since the music ends at 7:00 p.m., it will give patrons a chance to walk the city’s waterfront and check out local restaurants and shops, he said. And while the jazz demographic is largely adult, the festival invites youngsters to join the musical fun.
“We want to create a safe, fun and artistically rich environment for families as well,” he said. “Children 13 and under will be admitted free when accompanied by an adult.”
Tickets are $15 per person in advance, and can be reserved through the Your Theatre box office by calling 508-993-0772 or online at www.newbedfordjazzfest.com, or in person at Bridgewater Credit Union, 41 Fairhaven Commons, Fairhaven, and also at Symphony Music Shop in Dartmouth.
Tickets can be also bought for $20 the day of the event. Free parking will be available at 49 State Pier.
